Session-identifer based TWAMP data session provisioning in computer networks

1. A method comprising:

establishing a control connection between a two-way active measurement protocol (TWAMP) control client and a TWAMP server, wherein establishing the control connection includes exchanging indications that session identifier (SID)-based data sessions are supported by both the TWAMP control client and the TWAMP server;

negotiating, by the TWAMP control client and the TWAMP server over the control connection, a data session between a TWAMP session sender executed on a first network device and a TWAMP session reflector executed on a second network device, wherein negotiating the data session includes exchanging a SID assigned by the TWAMP server to identify the data session; and

exchanging one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session between the TWAMP session sender and the TWAMP session reflector, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session and at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID used to measure network performance between the first network device and the second network device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning, by the TWAMP server, a unique number as the SID of the data session, wherein the unique number is generated based on at least one of a source address for the data session, a destination address for the data session, or a random number generator.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning, by the TWAMP server, a new SID to identify the same data session after a set period of time or after a predetermined number of TWAMP test packets have been sent for the data session.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the SID of the data session in a data structure including a plurality of SIDs uniquely assigned to different data sessions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the control connection comprises:

sending, by the TWAMP server and to the TWAMP control client, a greeting message that identifies a plurality of communication modes that are supported by the TWAMP server, wherein one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP server; and

receiving, by the TWAMP server and from the TWAMP control client, a set up message that identifies at least one of the plurality of communication modes that is also supported by the TWAMP control client, wherein the at least one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP control client.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the control connection comprises:

receiving, by the TWAMP control client and from the TWAMP server, a greeting message that identifies a plurality of communication modes that are supported by the TWAMP server, wherein one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP server;

selecting, by the TWAMP control client, at least one of the plurality of communication modes that is also supported by the TWAMP control client; and

sending, by the TWAMP control client and to the TWAMP server, a set up message that identifies the at least one of the plurality of communication modes, wherein the at least one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP control client.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exchanging the one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session comprises:

receiving, by the TWAMP session reflector, the one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session from the TWAMP session sender, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session;

identifying, by the TWAMP session reflector, the data session of the one or more TWAMP test packets based on the SID included in the one or more TWAMP test packets; and

sending, by the TWAMP session reflector, the one or more TWAMP test packets back to the TWAMP session sender, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session and the at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID used to measure the network performance between the first network device and the second network device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein exchanging the one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session comprises:

sending, by the TWAMP session sender, the one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session to the TWAMP session reflector, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session;

receiving, by the TWAMP session sender, the one or more TWAMP test packets back from the TWAMP session reflector, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session and the at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID used to measure the network performance between the first network device and the second network device; and

associating, by the TWAMP session sender, the one or more TWAMP test packets with the data session based on the SID included in the one or more TWAMP test packets.

9. A network device comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory and executing a two-way active measurement protocol (TWAMP) control client and a TWAMP session sender, the one or more processors configured to:

establish a control connection between the TWAMP control client and a TWAMP server, wherein, to establish the control connection, the one or more processors are configured to exchange indications that session identifier (SID)-based data sessions are supported by both the TWAMP control client and the TWAMP server;

negotiate, over the control connection, a data session between the TWAMP session sender and a TWAMP session reflector executed on another network device, wherein, to negotiate the data session, the one or more processors are configured to exchange a SID assigned by the TWAMP server to identify the data session; and

send one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session from the TWAMP session sender to the TWAMP session reflector, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session, to measure network performance between the network device and the another network device according to at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID.

10. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, in response to sending the one or more TWAMP test packets:

receive the one or more TWAMP test packets back from the TWAMP session reflector, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session and the at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID used to measure the network performance between the network device and the another network device; and

associate the one or more TWAMP test packets with the data session based on the SID included in the one or more TWAMP test packets.

11. The network device of claim 9 , wherein, to negotiate the data session, the one or more processors are configured to receive a unique number assigned by the TWAMP server as the SID of the data session.

12. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive a new SID assigned by the TWAMP server to identify the same data session after a set period of time or after a predetermined number of TWAMP test packets have been sent for the data session.

13. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to store the SID of the data session in a data structure including a plurality of SIDs uniquely assigned to different data sessions.

14. The network device of claim 9 , wherein, to establish the control connection, the one or more processors are configured to:

receive a greeting message from the TWAMP server that identifies a plurality of communication modes that are supported by the TWAMP server, wherein one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP server;

select at least one of the plurality of communication modes that is also supported by the TWAMP control client; and

send a set up message to the TWAMP server that identifies the at least one of the plurality of communication modes, wherein the at least one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP control client.

15. A network device comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory and executing a two-way active measurement protocol (TWAMP) server and a TWAMP session reflector, the one or more processors configured to:

establish a control connection between the TWAMP server and a TWAMP control client, wherein, to establish the control connection, the one or more processors are configured to exchange indications that session identifier (SID)-based data sessions are supported by both the TWAMP control client and the TWAMP server;

negotiate, over the control connection, a data session between the TWAMP session reflector and a TWAMP session sender executed on another network device, wherein, to negotiate the data session, the one or more processors are configured to exchange a SID assigned by the TWAMP server to identify the data session; and

receive one or more TWAMP test packets for the data session by the TWAMP session reflector from the TWAMP session sender, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session, to measure network performance between the network device and the another network device according to at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID.

16. The network device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, upon receipt of the one or more TWAMP test packets:

identify the data session of the one or more TWAMP test packets based on the SID included in the one or more TWAMP test packets; and

send the one or more TWAMP test packets from the TWAMP session reflector back to the TWAMP session sender, each of the one or more TWAMP test packets including the SID of the data session and the at least one metric for the data session identified by the SID used to measure the network performance between the network device and the another network device.

17. The network device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to assign a unique number as the SID of the data session, wherein the unique number is generated based on at least one of a source address for the data session, a destination address for the data session, or a random number generator.

18. The network device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to assign a new SID to identify the same data session after a set period of time or after a predetermined number of TWAMP test packets have been sent for the data session.

19. The network device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to store the SID of the data session in a data structure including a plurality of SIDs uniquely assigned to different data sessions.

20. The network device of claim 15 , wherein, to establish the control connection, the one or more processors are configured to:

send a greeting message to the TWAMP control client that identifies a plurality of communication modes that are supported by the TWAMP server, wherein one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP server; and

receive a set up message from the TWAMP control client that identifies at least one of the plurality of communication modes that is also supported by the TWAMP control client, wherein the at least one of the plurality of communication modes indicates that the SID-based data sessions are supported by the TWAMP control client.